Not that anyone really needs a watch to check the time. We all carry more than enough devices that inform us of the time, or more commonly, the lack thereof.

Maybe that is why there is a nice retro feel in the whole idea of wearing a watch. I dare you to rush me! Let me just check the time on my watch and see if I care to rush!

We are certainly fans of cool time pieces here at TCH, so when we were introduced to the Melbourne-based AÃRK Collective our interest was immediate.

We love the minimalist, serious craftsmanship of not just the watches and every detail inside and out, but also the packaging.

The attention to every detail honours the craftsmanship, the timeless craftsmanship, of the entire experience. These are not jewellery or pretentiously magnanimous investment pieces for sheer show-off.

These are practical yet beautiful. Form and function. Minimalist and cool. Just what we love. We’ve ordered our Yolk Yellow watches. Now, if only time would fly a little faster…Tuija Seipell

First we fell in love with the city-ready look of Skora, a new “natural” sneaker brand from Portland, Oregon. Then we fell in love with the shoe itself.

Since we received a pair, it is pretty much all we’ve been wearing around town, on the beach or running, to the gym, to work, to yoga. They are super comfortable and light, and they make us feel like we’re floating or walking on clouds. They feel totally natural, almost like being barefoot, only better! And that is just what the designers intended.

Skora was founded by David Sypiewski, a well-funded entrepreneur and formerly injured runner.

His shoes, like so many of the new, minimalist running shoes crowding the market today, are based on the notion that humans were designed to run shoeless, and that most running shoes overcorrect the human foot’s natural ability to adjust and function. Rather than piling up more features, more support, more cushioning and more everything, the minimalist or natural shoe designers start from the bare foot and its inherent abilities.

Skora’s first two models are based on a last that is shaped like the natural arch, and they have no height drop from heel to toe. The mid-foot hits the ground first, not the heel as with most running shoes.

In addition to loving the look of the shoes and loving the amazing feeling of wearing them, we also love their branding. The website is easy to navigate and the entire brand works. We are definitely fans. - Bill Tikos

Spanish leather goods and women's accessories firm Malababa started in 1997 when pharmacy graduate Ana Carrasco realized she was more drawn to fashion than apothecary. She created a solid following in Madrid, then in the rest of Spain, and moved on to other markets in 2003. Malababa is now sold in more than 300 stores in Mexico, Argentina, USA, Japan, Kuwait, China and several European countries.

In Malababa pieces, there is a sense of traditional Spanish craftsmanship and handiwork. The use of natural-tone leathers and metal accents with timeless patina create a feel of value, elegance and timelessness. Purses, bags, wallets and shoes form the core of each collection, with cuffs, belts and other accessories completing the line.

When a brand pretends to be something it is not, the result generally backfires. Like this beautiful Chrysler “Style” commercial that demonstrates that yes, Chrysler was synonymous with American style. The key word being WAS. Lesson: Even great advertising does not make uncool, cool.

Which leads us to think of bygone eras and authentic brands that are no more. Such as Benrus watches. Somehow the move to digital watches and colorful plastic timepieces took the seriousness out of watches. Is this good or bad? You decide for yourself but we are currently enamored with the 1940 Benrus Sky Chief. Real numbers, real hands, serious black or silver face, a real crown to wind it. Benrus Watch co. was founded in New York City in the 1920s by Benjamin Lazarus. Benrus was the official watch of the U.S. mail-carrying pilots of several cargo airlines. Known at its peak as the “Official Watch of Famous Airlines,” it was the official time piece of pilots at Delta, KLM, NWA and TWA. You can still find some of the authentic Sky Chiefs, and by forking out $2,400 or so, you may even be able to own one. - Bill Tikos

Tim and Fiona Slack (T&F Slack) are married to each other and to their love of creating shoes, considered “modern classics” by industry standards. Their collection gives the classic “Gibson” or “Derby” shoe shape new life when unexpected color combinations, stitching details and fabrications are blended together.

You can choose from the perforated Punch Derby in white leather with yellow peaking beneath, or have a custom pair made to order in their Notting Hill Shop, or use the simple “build your own shoe” system they’ve created within Selfridges and Liberty.

Dedicated to keeping manufacturing local, they make around 150 shoes per month in their factory where old-fashioned machinery is salvaged and customized to create their “modern classic” shoes. With so much repetition in the world of shoes, it’s so refreshing to see a unique and bespoke solution that really does draw the eye downwards! – Kate Vandermeer